After four years of administrator rule at the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), standing committee chairperson Shivani Dani-Wakhare is set to present the civic body's Budget on May 19. The size of the financial plan is likely to swell to nearly ₹6,500 crore, according to sources within the civic body. The Budget will be presented during a special general body meeting.
Budget size and historical context
The last elected standing committee Budget was presented in 2021-22 by then chairman Prakash Bhoyar, with an outlay of ₹2,796.07 crore. Since the imposition of administrator rule in March 2022, the NMC Budget has witnessed a sharp jump, crossing the ₹5,000-crore mark in recent years. In March this year, municipal commissioner Vipin Itankar proposed a ₹5,857-crore Budget for 2026-27, projecting revenue of ₹5,541.31 crore and expenditure of ₹5,840.65 crore. However, sources said the standing committee is likely to revise the outlay upward by nearly ₹1,000 crore before placing it before the general body.
Meeting schedule and agenda
The agenda for the meeting will be issued soon, said a source, adding that the Budget will be tabled before the special general body on Tuesday, May 19. Discussion on the same will be held on May 21.
Expected state government funding
Officials indicated that the proposed expansion would largely hinge on expected state government funding. Apart from special grants from the state government, the civic body is banking on nearly ₹900 crore for Phase-V of the cement concrete road project and another ₹250 crore for beautification of gardens and development of playgrounds with the help of the Maharashtra government.
Revenue generation measures
Sources said the standing committee may push for strengthening the NMC's own revenue generation mechanisms. Among proposals under discussion are the introduction of fresh advertisement-related charges, permitting small-format hoardings at designated locations, and revision of existing advertisement board fees. Civic officials believe augmentation of non-tax revenue will become crucial as expenditure commitments continue to rise.
Property tax revision status
The administration has already indicated that a revision in property tax and advertisement charges is under consideration, though no proposal has yet been formally incorporated into the draft Budget. Any such move would require approval from the standing committee and the general body. However, the Budget may not introduce any property tax revision. The last property tax revision was in 2015.
Revenue realisation challenges
Despite ambitious projections, officials admitted that revenue realisation remains a concern. For the 2025-26 financial year, the NMC is unlikely to meet even its revised revenue targets, sources said. Recovery of dues continues to remain a challenge, with property tax arrears already crossing ₹900 crore and pending water charges exceeding ₹300 crore.
Focus areas and financing options
The Budget is expected to focus heavily on roads, water supply, sanitation, health services, and infrastructure creation. It will also explore borrowing options such as municipal bonds and bank loans to finance capital-intensive projects.
